Thiruvalluvar Day

On 16th January 2026, on the occasion of Thiruvalluvar Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to the revered Tamil poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar, saying that his works and ideals continue to inspire innumerable people across generations.

Thiruvalluvar is believed to have lived around 2,000 years ago and is traditionally associated with Mylapore in present-day Chennai, though scholarly opinions vary on his birthplace and period, ranging from the 4th century BCE to the early 6th century CE.
His magnum opus, the Tirukkural, comprises 1,330 couplets addressing ethics, morality, governance, economics and love, and is regarded as one of the greatest works of Tamil literature for its clarity, brevity and universal values.
Through his life and teachings, Thiruvalluvar demonstrated that spiritual excellence and moral living are possible within household life, without renunciation, emphasising purity, duty and righteousness in everyday conduct.
Revered as a saint and philosopher across southern India, Thiruvalluvar is associated with the Sangam tradition and is held in such esteem that the Tirukkural is also known as the Tamil Veda, Uttaravedam and Potumarai.